Chapter 30
After catching a train early the next day, Nathan and Haley found themselves hailing a cab to take them home. Once in the back seat Nathan turned to look at Haley whose eyes were staring out the window.
"Hey Hales?"
"Yes."
"You uh, okay going home and stuff?"
"I figure I'm going to have to go home sooner or later. So why not just get it over with."
"Are you sure Hales, I mean, seeing Taylor might just…"
"-bring back memories. I know. I was thinking about that the whole train-ride back. Maybe I won't even have to face her. I mean, I owe her nothing so I could easily just go by living in that house without even talking to her."
"Hales…" Nathan began before stopping. "Never mind."
"What is it Nathan?"
"It's nothing. Forget it."
"Nathan, I know something's bothering you so just say it," Haley huffed.
"How do you know, you're not even looking at me," Nathan replied, staring at Haley's figure which was looking out the window.
"I don't need to see you to know what you're doing. I just know."
"Okay fine, but don't hate me for what I'm about to say."
"Alright…" Haley stated skeptically.
"Maybe when you get home you should talk to Taylor."
"Are you serious or are you trying to make me laugh?"
"I'm serious Hales."
"Nathan, she screwed me over majorly. Twice I might add. Why should I even look at her?"
"Because, I don't know. You ever think she did all this for a reason? You know. Split me and you up."
"Um, duh. Because she hates to see me happy."
"I don't know Hales. I think it's more than that. My dad does some pretty assy things but each time there's always a purpose behind it."
"So that makes it right?" Haley said pulling her eyes from the scenery and turning to face Nathan. "Because she had a motive, ruining my life is okay?"
"That's not what I'm saying Hales. I'm just saying maybe you should pull a Harriet the Spy and try and figure out why Taylor's did all this. She made a lot of trouble to keep us apart. Someone just doesn't do that because they feel like it."
"I guess you're right," Haley sighed. "I hate that you know?"
"Oh, I know," Nathan said smirking. "Your just as stubborn as I am. But damn does it feel good to be right over Ms. Tutor."
"You shut your mouth Nathan Scott or maybe you won't have a tutor," Haley replied smiling at him.
"Consider my lips sealed," Nathan stated giving Haley a goofy grin before continuing. "Only to be unlocked by a kiss."
"Oh god, who would want to do that?"
"You didn't seem to complain yesterday when I came to see you," Nathan said wiggling his eyebrows. "As a matter of fact, maybe one of these nifty letters will tell me if you missed my addicting mouth."
"Driver please, pull over. I'm suffocating from his ego," Haley joked gasping for air. "And seriously Nathan if you recite any of my letter to me, I will kill you."
"I'll take note of that."
"Okay, now back to what we were talking about before. I don't know if I can do it. You know, find out Taylor's little secrets."
"And why is that Hales?"
"Because I'm scared."
"You're scared?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because in order to find out information from her I'm going to have to open up to her. She's not going to tell me if I'm all cold towards her."
"And that's scary because?"
"It's scary because I'll be opening up to her. Putting my guard down. Making myself vulnerable to get hurt again."
"But you won't get hurt Haley."
"And you know this how?"
"Because I'll be here to protect you. Always and forever. And this time, if you try and run away, I'm following you."
"I'm not going to run away again."
"Good. But I mean, if you really have to you can run to my house. Or actually, my apartment."
"Apartment?" Haley questioned.
"Yeah, Lucas looked at one for me. In fact I have to go sign the lease today."
"Nathan that's wonderful! You'll finally be away from Dan officially."
"I know Hales. I know."
"I'm proud of you, ya know that?"
"I do. But thank you Hales. I owe you for it actually. Without you wouldn't have even attempted to become emancipated or have gotten one."
"Well, I've got to protect you too ya know," she smiled, looking into his eyes.
"Yeah," Nathan stated as the taxi pulled in front of Haley's house. "Well I guess it's time for you to face your fears."
"Aw, do I have to?" Haley said pouting.
"Yes, now go. You're strong. I know you can do it," Nathan stated giving her a peck on the lips.
"Thank you Nathan," Haley stated as she opened the door. "And Nathan?"
"Yeah?"
"Feel free to stop by later after you sign your lease. I might need some back up if World War III erupts between us."
"Alright Hales. But let's hope it doesn't. Play nice!"
"I don't think me and Taylor have ever played nice."
"Well there's always a time to start," Nathan replied before Haley closed the door, blowing him a kiss, then picked up her bags to drag into the house.
As Haley approached the door she felt her stomach twist in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know how she would react to Taylor or if she could even attempt to play nice. So much anger from both the past and present were bottled up inside her just waiting to erupt.
Something else made her stomach twist though. It was as if the house was different. Like it had a new aura. However, from the outside everything seemed to remain the same… but then she opened the door. As soon as she opened the door there was a drastic change from when she left it. Scattered about the living room where a young child's toys, as well as a portable crib and baby swing. As she approached her stairs to place her bags at the bottom, and then made her way to the kitchen she could see an empty high chair. As Haley rounded the corner of the kitchen to finally step inside her sister finally came into view. She had a wooden spoon in one hand, of which she was using to stir some pasta, and a toddler in the other.
Wait, hold up. A toddler. Immediately Haley's jaw dropped and she starred at her sister. After a couple seconds, Taylor noticed a presence in the room and turned towards the doorway, immediately dropping the spoon to the floor.
"Ha-Haley," Taylor stated, her eyes wide.
"It's good to see you too Taylor," she replied sarcastically.
"No of course. It's just uh. I wasn't- I wasn't expecting you back so soon."
"Well here I am, in the flesh. Look's like some things have changed though."
"Yeah… are we, you know… me and you okay?"
"Yes," Haley lied through her teeth. "I left that all back in New Jersey."
"Oh that's so great to hear! I really am sorry Haley."
"I'm sure you are," Haley stated, a fake smile across her face. Yeah you're sorry… sorry you got caught.
"So what have you done to the place in the what, two weeks I've been gone?"
"Well, I guess I'll just state the obvious."
"And that is…"
"We have a new roommate. Meet Harley," Taylor cooed holding the two-year-old in her arms.
"Ha-Harley?"
"Well I call him Lee for short but yes."
"Okay so Lee… as in Lee from-"
"Yes," Taylor replied curtly, avoiding Haley's gaze.
"I see. Well that's definitely new. Why the sudden move in? I though Mrs. Keller wasn't allowing you to keep him until you could show her you were financially stable and stuff."
"Oh uh, that's a long story," Taylor stated nervously, before continuing her story into a lie. "Mrs. Keller just decided to change her mind and now Harley lives her full-time. I'm really going to try and be his mother."
"I see."
"So uh, do you want to meet him?"
"Oh Taylor, I don't know…"
"Come on… you're his godmother."
"Fine," Haley stated putting out her arms where Taylor placed the toddler. She looked down at the little boy, his hair brown and slightly shaggy; his eyes a grayish color like his mother. He was adorable. As much as she wanted to hate him, Haley couldn't. He couldn't choose his fate; it wasn't his fault his parents were who they were. So instantly Haley formed a bond with this child. She vowed to herself that she would protect him. Protect him from the evils of Taylor and who knows what else. All she knew was that she wouldn't let past mistakes ruin his, or her future.
"I think he likes you," Taylor stated looking as the young boy reaches his hand up to intertwine with Haley's hair.
"And I think I like him."
"I'm so glad Haley. I know that it's not easy for you. But I want so much for you to like him. I just wish… I wish the circumstances of which I was given this gift were different," Taylor stated looking at her child.
"Me too Tay. But that's all in the past now," Haley stated, iToo bad for me the past never stays in the past though./i
"I know, little sis. I know."
"Well, here," she said giving the child back to Taylor. "I'm going to go unpack."
"Alright. And Haley?"
"Yes Tay?"
"Thanks for not hating me."
"You're welcome," Haley stated before turning outside the kitchen and up the stairs. iToo bad you don't know the truth. That I still do hate you, and that I think a part of me always will/i, she thought to herself before entering her bedroom, closing the door behind her.
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"Okay Mr. Scott, I'll just need you to initial here and here and then the lease will be all yours."
"What about this month's and last month's rent?" Nathan questioned while signing the lease forms.
"That's already been taken care of."
"May I ask by whom?" he questioned, utterly confused at who would have done that.
"Let me check," the superintendent stated, flipping through the file.
"It says here a Mrs. Deborah Lee Scott."
"You're joking." Nathan stated stunned.
"No I'm not sir."
"Did Lucas put you up to this?"
"Who's Lucas?"
"Okay guess not. May I see your file?"
"Sir this is confidential."
"Just give me the damn file," Nathan stated ripping it from the man's grasp. Sure enough, there was her signature for the down payment, iDeborah Lee Scott/i. The instantly grabbed the file back, looking over at Nathan's shocked face.
"You okay there son?" He questioned.
"My mom's back," Nathan stated quietly to himself. "My mom is back."